Beam-sgale



(No Model.)

A. H. EMERYF BEAM SCALE.

Patented June 5, 1883.

N. PETERS. Phmlhimgnphr, Washing D. C.

UNITED STATES 'ATENT Fries.

ALBERT H. EMERY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE EMERY SCALE COMPANY, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

BEAM-SCALE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,901, dated June 5, 1883,

' Application filed February 5, 1881. (No model.)

T aZZ whom, it 12mg concern: 7

' Be it known that I, ALBERT H. EMERY, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements The scale is constructed with a frame consisting ofhorizont al flanges at top and bottom connect- 10 ed by a web. From the upper flange rises a short standard, to which the beam is fulcrumed bya flexible plate. The weights are of peculiar construction, and are suspended by a number of rods arranged at such relative distances 1 from the fulcrum that suitably-proportioned weights on each rod will havetenfold the value of the weights on the rod next preceding. Cones or projections are provided on the rods for the reception of the weights, the weights being supported, when not in use, by frames constructed with independent supports, by which the weights will be applied or removed separately and in succession by a vertical movement imparted to the weight-frames by suitable levers and connections. The weightframes consist each of two or more bars connected by a cross-head, and are supported by adjustable trictioirbrakes in any position in which they may be set. An indicator at- 0 tached to each weightframe shows the numher or value of weights applied. to the beam. One or more suspension devices are applied to the load end of the beam, with .weight sup. porting framesand levers and connections so 3 5 arranged that by a vertical movement of the weight-supporting frames the weights maybe succesively removed, producing the same balancing effect as the application of weights to the other end of the beam. The load-platform 40 is supported within a frame guided in avertical path .by stay-rods with thin plate connections. Between the platform and its supporting-frame are buffer-springs adapted to take up any shock caused by the sudden deposit of a load on the platform, also to permit a slight horizontal movement of the'platform and restore it to its normal position. A stop on the bed-plate supports the platform when it is loaded in excess of the proper ca pacity of the scale. A hydra'ulic brake is pro sition in which it-may be set.

vided to check the too freemotion of the scale to any extent desired by the friction of liquids forced from one chamber to another by pressure-diaphragms connected by moving heads, adjustingscrews, and springs to the beam.

In the accompanying drawings, the scale is represented in eight figures, numbered 9 to 16, inclusive. Figure 9 is a front elevation of a beam-scale, illustrating theinvention. Fig. 10 is a plan ortop view of the-same. Fig. llis an end elevationthereot'. 12 is a sectional ele vation, on a larger scale, ofthe hydraulic-brake attachment connected with the center of the beam. Fig. 13 is a plan of said hydraulic-brake attachment. Fig. 14: is atransverse section of the friction-clamp employed to supportand retain the weightsupporting frame in any po- Fig-.15 isa front sectional elevation of the said clamp. Fig. 16 is an elevation of one-half of atwopart weight, showing detached portions of the weight-suspension rod, and of the two bars or members of. the weight'supporting frame.

Upon a bed, 61, are erected standards 62 62,

supporting the stationary scale-frame, which consists of a vertical web, 68, with horizontal flanges 64 65 at top and bottom. A short standard, 66, supports the fulcrum-block 67 of the beam 68, through the medium of thin flexible plates 69, the edges of which are set in suitable gaging notches or recesses, and clamped by blocks 70 71, screwed to the standard 66 and fulcrum-block 67, respectively. The described method of attaching the thin flexible plates to the standard and fulcrum-block is preferred; but these parts may be connected in any other suitable manner without departing from my invention.

The beam is limited in its play by set-screws 72 73, abutting against shoulders 74 75 on a 0 pillar or standard, 76, near the weight end of the beam.

To a lug or bracket projecting forward from the top of the pillar? 6 are clamped, by a plate and screw, 77, thin plate connections 78, for 5 the suspension of a horizontal indicator-rod, 79, which latteris fitted within a bracket, 80, to one end of which the lower edges of the plates 78 are clamped, while to its other end are clamped thin flexible plates 81, connecting the heel of the rod with the weight end of the beam 68. as shown.

he standards 66 and 76 may be formed in one with the frame 63 6t 65, or either or both may be attached thereto by screws or other means, as preferred.

The projecting rear end of the rod 79 carries a sliding block. 82, adapted to be set nearer to or farther from the fulcrum, and carrying a vertical stud, 83, which may be screwthreaded, and supports a counterbalanceweight. 81, adjustable up or down to regulate the sensitiveness of the scale. The free end of the rod works in a slotted guide, 85, without contact, and in front of a graduated indicator- -pla-te, 86, both attached to the beam "68.

On the indicator-rod is asliding weight, 87, for use in approximately balancing the beam. Sliding weights SS 89 90 on bars 91 92', fixed to and moving with the main beam, are used for more delicate balancing. One of these weights, 90. is made of aluminium or other light material for very accurate balancing. The sliding tare-weight may, if preferred, be fitted upon the main beam, as shown at 93. Any of these weights may be used for ordinary weighing by graduating the beam or the bar on which they slide.

A co unterwight specially designed for weighing purposes is shown at 91, sliding on a graduated bar, 95. The said bar has a second set ofgraduations, 97, in connection with which an aluminium or othet light weight, 96, is used, the relative proportions of the weight and graduations being such that, in weighing, ten main divisions of the scale 97 with the weight 96 equal one of the scale 95 with the weight 91. Shelves 98 99 are provided at the respective ends of the beam for the reception of heavy weights 100.

The mode of forming fulcrums and connections by means of thin flexible plates is illustrated by the main fulcrum of the scale at 69 in Fig. 9. These plates, whether they are to bear a strain of tension or of compression, are clamped to'the parts which they are to con neet by suitable plates preferably fixed by screws. here the thin plates have to resist a strain of compression, either the clampplates or the parts to which they are affixed are notched or recessed to the requisite depth to admit the edges of the thin plates, and as such thin plates are previously prepared of an accurately uniform width, the depth of the notches or recesses constitutes a gage for accurately and readily setting the thin plates to a proper depth to secure them, while leaving a slight space between the surfaces of the parts which they connect. The thin flexible plates and the clamp-plates and screws or other devices by which they are attached will be hereinafter referred to collectively under the term thin -plate connect-ions. Such thinplate connections are described and claimed in another application of even date herewith.

101 represents the load-platform, supported within a frame consisting ofa bottom, 1.02, and cross'head 108, connected by rods 1.01. The platform rests on the bottom 1.02 of its frame through the medium of spring-buffers105, to

prevent the comnmnication of any jar to the scalein putting on a load. A, central buffer or stud, 106, which projects through the bottom of the frame and settles on a stationary stop, in the event of the platform being overloaded, prevents the overstiaining ot' the scale from this cause. The springs 105 and buffer 106 also allow a slight lateral movement of platform 101 without overstra-ining the scale or moving the bottom plate, 102. The platformframe is suspended flexibly from the end of the beam 68 by alink, 108, and thin-plate connections 10?), and is secured against horizontal movement without any interference with its proper vertical motion by bars 110 111, attached by thin-plate connections 112 to the base 61 and the top 64 of the scale-frame, and to the bottom 1.02 and top 103 of the platform' frame.

113 represents a load or weight placed on platform 101.

114 is a small load-platform suspended from the indicator-rod 79 by a rod or frame, 115, and thin-plate connection 116, attached to an upwardly-piejecting bracket, 11 T, as described and claimed in another applie; tion of even date herewith.

118 119 1.20 12.1 are a series of weight-rods suspended from the beam 68 at regular intervals by thin-plate connections 122. These suspended rods a-re constructed with equidistant collars 123 for the support of weights 124., of peculiar construction, any number of which are caused to rest on the said collars, and thereby to bear on the beam 68 at the will of the operator.

For applying and removing the weights,vertically-moving frames are provided, each consisting of two bars, 125 125, connected by a cross-head, 126, and fitted to slide up and down in suitable openings in the flanges 61 of the scale-frame. This vertical sliding movement is communicated by levers 127 128 129 130, connnected to the respective cross-heads 126 by links 131.

To sustain the weight-frames and their superincumbent weights in any position in which they may be set, friction clamps or holders are provided, each consisting of a pair of bars, 132, constructed with cavities which together form round openings fitting over the bars 125, and provided with packing-rings 133, of leather or other elastic material, inserted in annular grooves within the cavities, as shown in Figs. l-t and 15. a

The two parts of the holder are fastened together by screws 134, by means of which they may be tightened upon the bars of the weight-frame, so as to cause the packing-rings to press with any necessary friction on the said bars to prevent them from moving by their gravity and that of the weights. The holders are secured to the flange 65 of the scale-frame by bolts 135 and nuts 136.

one of the attaching-bolts and nuts and afra-gment of one bar of the weight-supporting frame.

To adapt the weight-supporting frames 125 to deposit the weights 121 on the collars 123 of the suspension-rods separately and in succession by a vertical movement, the bars 125 are provided with conical collars 137, slightly closer together than the collars 123 on the weight-suspending rods. \Vhen'the weightsupporting frame 125 is in its highest position,

all the weights will he supported by the col-- lars 137 out of contact with the rods suspended from the beam. On lowering the frame 125 the uppermost weight will first be deposited on its collar 123, and by continuing the movement the next weight will be deposited, and

' so on until the desired number of weights are supporting-frame 125.

made to hang on the beam. By connecting the weight-rods firmly to the beam by thin plates without backlash, the projections for carrying the weights need be but little farther apart than the projections or cones on the weight-frames, by which the weights are applied. W'ithout this firm connection the distances would have to be, inconveniently great. The number of weights hanging on the beanr rods is thus determined by the position of the This position is shown by an index, 138, attached to the weightframe, and an indicator-plate, 139, on the top flange, 64, of the scale-frame. The figures on the indicator-plate show the number and value of the weights bearing on the beam.

The construction of the weights is shown in Fig. 16, which represents one-half of a weight,

Lil

with fragments ofthe two bars 125 of the weight frame and of the weight-suspension rod 121. The frame 125 125 is here shown lowered so as to deposit the weight on the collar 123. The weights are made in two parts, for convenience in applying them around the suspension-rods 121 and the bars 125 of the supporting-frames, and fixed together by screws. The conical form of the collars 137 causes them in lifting the weights to center them, so that they will move up and down without touching the sus pension-rods. XVhen lifted by the frame-rods 125 they rest on the flat shoulders at the base of the cones.

The collars 123 of the suspension-rods may have a form similar tothe collars 137 but The weight-supporting frame and weights at the extremity of the beam, where the flanges 64 65 project beyond the web 63, are shown in suspension-rod11S.-

is hanging on the beam.

they are preferabl made flat, as shown in Fig.

123 and 137 of the 'rod 121 and the end frame 125. w

In practice the relative distances of the weight suspension rods 118 1.19 120 121 and the gravity of the weights applied thereto will be so proportioned that one of the weights on the rod 119 will be equivalent to ten on the rod 118, one on the rod 120 equivalent to ten on the rod 119, and so on. To this end the weights of the first rod, 118, may be. made of aluminium or other-light material, and'th other weights of p on /.e or other heavy material of different sizes. Thus the several weights of the rod 118 may be equivalent to grams on the load-platform 101, those of the rod 119 to decigrams on said platform, those of the rod 120 to hectograms, and those of the rod 121 to kilograms. These weight-rods may be placed nearer'to or farther from the fulcrum or each other, and the weights may have any other proportions so as to give the weights any desired ratio of effect. The sliding counter-weight 9+1, with its graduations 95 on the beam, is shown as equivalent to the series of weights of the rod 118, so that if the scale be balancedwith the weight 91 at zero, which the left extremity of its scale, then the sliding of the weight to number 10 (the position shown in Fig. 9) will be equivalent todepositing the entire firstseries of weights ontheir These equivalent weights may be used either in conjunction or separately, as preferred. \Vith the fulcrum distances arranged as here shown, a load on the secondary platform 11-1 will have tenfold the effect on the weights of a load on the platform 101. The fulcrum distances may be so proportioned as to make the relative effect of load on the two platforms as one hundred to one, or in any other desired ratio.

At- 140 is shown a pair of weight-rods suspended from the platform end of the beam by thiirplate connections 111, and adapted to Y carry a series of counter-weights, 124, equal in value to the weights of the rod 121 at the other end of the beam. These rods are constructed with cones and shouldered collars simi lar to' those on the weight-supporting rods 125. The normal position ofthe counterweights 124E For the purpose of weighing, they are raised from their collars in succession by an upward movement of a central rod, .125, by means of an operating-lever, connected with said rod by a link, 131.

It will be evident that if the scale be bal anced with all the counter-weights resting on the collars ofthe suspending-rods 140, a weight der the proportions here shown, has a motion about ten times as great as the ends of the beam, the movement of the latter in use is sca rely perceptible but even a slight spring-f ing of the beam might produce a perceptible effect on the delicate indicator. By providing, as above described, for balancing a considerable part of the load by the removal of weights from the platform end, any material springing of the beam may be avoided.

To check the motion of the beam and bring it to rest quickly, the scale is provided with a variable hydraulic brake, constructed as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, with a stationary abutment,

' 1&2, recessed above and below, and fixed by two or more bolts, 143, to the top 6t of the frame. Liquid-chambers are formed by covering the cavities or recesses in the abutment with diaphragms 111, secured at their peripheries by rings 1-t5 and at their centers to heads 116. The heads 116 are connected by setscrews 147 and elastic arms 118 to a bar, 1&9, which is attached by a thin-plate connection, 150, to a lug, 151, on the fulcrum-block 67 of the beam. The liquidchambers are connected by a contracted duct, 152, communicating with which is an orifice, 153, employed for filling the chambers, and closed bya plug, 151 The oscillation of the beam will be resisted by the friction of the liquid passing through the duct 152, and this resistance can be varied, ifrequired, by changing the size of the duct or by moving the plate connection 150 farther from or nearer to the center of motion of the beam.

A fiber-testing device is applied to the beam,

. consisting of a bracket, 155, for attaching the upper end of the thread, and a screw-rod, 156,

with the weights at the weight end of the beam I for drawing it, said rod being guided by a cross-head, 157, to which itris rigidly attached,

sliding on rods 158. The screw 156 is moved either up or down, as required, by the rota.

tion of the nut 159, which is formed with a worm on its periphery gearing with a screw crank-shaft, 160, to turn it in either direction. The combined worm-wheel and nut 159 is con- 'tined between the flange and a transverse bar, 159", screwed at its ends to the longitudinal plates 159, which are fastened to the flange 65 and constitute the bearings of the screw shaft 160. The screw 156 is guided by the apertures in the flange 65 and in the transverse bar 159", so as to secure it against horizontal movement.

- The mode of using the device to test a strain of tension is illustrated in Fig. 9. For a strain of compression the specimen to be tested is placed bet-ween the cross-head 157 and the beam 68, and the crank is turned in the proper direction to force the screw 156 upward instead of drawing it down, as for a tensile strain. For testing a tensile strain the scale is balanced off and those at the load end on, and the strain is measured by adding weights to the weight end of the beam or removing them from the load end. For testing a strain of compression the scale is balanced with the weights in a re versed position, and the weights are used in the reverse manner. By'applying the specimen at the mid-length of -one arm of the beam plained.

the strain is readily ascertained, being preciselydouble the value of the weights which may be used.

\Vhatever novel subjeetmatter I have set forth and notclaimed or attempted to claim herein I have claimed or attempted to claim in other applications, or have reserved to be claimed in future original applications.

The following is claimed as new:

1. The scale frame constructed as herein described, with top and bottom flanges, 64 65, and a connecting-web, 63. I

2. The combination of. the flanged frame 63 61 65, supporting -standard 66, supporting plate or plates 69, and beam 68, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A scale-beam provided with one or more weight-rods constructed-with cones or projections for the independent support of any de sired number of weights, as set forth.

1. A scale-beam firmly supported by one or more thin plates at its fixed or bearing fulcrum, and provided with -one or more weight rods, each firmly connected thereto by one or more thin plates, and constructed with cones or projections for the independent support of any desired number of weights, as set forth.

5. A weight-rod constructed with suitable cones or projections, in combination with two or more weights resting independently on said cones or projectionsand not on each other.

6. In combination with a scalebeam, a movable weightsupporting bar or frame having suitable projections to support a plurality of weights and apply them in succession to the beam, substantially as set forth.

'7. The combination of a suspension bar or rod and a weight-supporting bar or frame, each having suitable projections, so that a movement of the weight-supporting bar or frame relatively to the beam or suspensionrod will cause a successive application or removal of the weights.

8. The construction of the weight-supporting bar or frame and the suspension-rods with cones or projections at different distances asunder, so as to cause a successive application or removal of the weights, as explained.

9. The construction of the weight-supportcross-head, 126, as described.

10. The combination of the weight-support ing frame or frames 125 126 with the doublyfianged guiding-frame 63 61 65, as and for the purposes set forth.

11. The combination, with the weight-supporting frame 125 126, of the link or links 131 and lever 127 for operating the same,.a's eX- 12. The combination of the weight-supp'orting frame 125 126, index 138, and index plate 139, as set forth. "if

13. The two part weight 121, constructed and connected as and for the purposes setfqrth'. 1a; The combination, with the weight-sup ing rods or frames 125 126, of a friction-brake IIO 'ing frame with bars 125, connected by a 132, bearing on the weight-rods or on a moving part connected therewith to retain the frames in any position in which they may be set.

15. The combination of the flange 65, bolts 135, clamp-screw 131, frictionbars 132, and contained packing 133 with the weight bar or frame, as and for the purpose set forth.

16. The combination of a series of weightsupporting frames and suspension-rods with suitable weights and a beam, the whole arranged in certain proportions, substantially as herein set forth.

17. The combination, with the platform 101 and its suspending-frame 102 103 104, of the bars 110 111, connected by thin plates to the platform frame and to the scale-frame, as described, for the purposes set forth.

18. The combination of the platform 101, suspension'frame 102 103 104i, buffer-springs 105, and stop 106 107, as and for the purposes set forth.

19. In a beam-scale, a weight'support con nected to the beam at the load side of the fulcrum, and separate from the load-platform to enable the counterbalancing of a load on the platform by the removal of weights, as set forth.

20. In combination with a scale-beam and a suspended IOad platfOrm, a suspension weight- 30 rod located on'the load-p1atform side of the beam-fulcrum, and a series of weights supported on a movable frame adapted to apply or remove the weights separately and in suc cession, as explained; p O 5 21. In a scale constructed with thiirplate fulcrum-connections, a hydraulic brake operating substantially as herein set forth.

22. In combination with a scale-beam, the hydraulic brake, constructed substantiallyas 4o herein described, with two liquid-chambers and a pair of diaphragms arranged to force liquid from one chamber to the other by a movement of the beam in either direction.

23. The testing device consisting of the 45 screw-rod 156, worm-nut 159, screw 160, crosshead 157 and guide 158, in combination with the frame 63 64 65, scale-beam 68, and a suitable attaching device 155, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

ALBERT H. EMERY.

\Vitnesses:

OCTAVIUS KNIGHT, MAHLoN RANDOLPH. 

